Theoretical and methodological foundations for assessing the role of ecotourism in regional economic development

Abstract

This article systematizes the theoretical and methodological foundations for assessing the role of ecotourism in regional economic development. Ecotourism is treated not merely as a source of direct visitor expenditure but as a mechanism that can generate local employment, support small businesses and supply chains, finance natural capital, and diversify rural household incomes. Complementary approaches are examined, including the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), regional input-output and social accounting matrix models, Local Economy-Wide Impact Evaluation (LEWIE), cost-benefit analysis, and the UN Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism. World Bank assessments show that each tourist dollar increased local income by approximately USD 2.48 around Nosy Be in Madagascar, USD 2.03 around Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, and USD 1.78 around Chitwan National Park in Nepal; in Brazil, one real of visitor spending around Abrolhos increased nearby household income by about 1.74 reals. These findings demonstrate that approaches limited to direct tourism receipts underestimate regional spillovers. For Uzbekistan, the article proposes an integrated regional framework combining visits, visitor expenditure, local procurement, employment, carrying capacity, and natural-capital indicators.